Battery connection



P 2, 1941- G. A. BJORNSON' BATTERY CONNECTION Filed Sept. 12, 1940 Patented Sept. 2, 1941 l1 Ciairns.

This invention relates to battery connections and more particularly to a storage batteryterminal clamp. This application is a continuationinpart of my copending application Serial No. 265,963, filed April 4, 1939.

As is well known, theterminal clamps of storage batteries are made in the form of a split ring having projecting spaced ears apertured to receive bolts for clamping the devices on the terminal posts The use of such devices is disadvantageous for the reason that corrosion renders it extremely diiiicult to remove the bolts of the clamps, when desired, and it is frequently impossible to remove the bolts without damaging the clamps. in such a connector it is necessary to completely unscrew the not from the bolt and withdraw the bolt axially from the clamping ears.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a storage battery terminal clamp of a novel construction wherein the turning of the nut for removing the bolt need take place only to the extent necessary to release pressure against the ears of the clamp, whereupon the bolt be laterally removed from the clamping ears.

A further object is to provide such a device wherein thebolt cooperates with the clamp, when corrosion has taken place, to efiect the camming of the belt out of its normal position in the ears.

A further object'is to provide a battery terminal clamp device wherein radial slots are substituted for the apertures in the ears of the clamping element to permit the radial insertion and removal of the bolt, and to so construct and arrangethe bolt and clampwith respect to each other that the'turning of the bolt is prevented when the nut is being applied and tightened,

and wherein portions of the bolt and clamp cooperate with each other upon the reverse turning of the nut to cam the bolt out of its position in the clamping ears, thus permitting the bolt to be quickly and readily removed after corrosion has taken placeand without injuring the clamp.

in any way.

Other objects and advantages of the invention,

will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the dr wi I have show e e a emb d Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of a modified form of the device showing the bolt and clamp separated, 1

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the same show ing the head of the bolt removed with the shank of the bolt in section,

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of another modification of the invention, the parts being shown separated,

Figure '7 is a side elevation of a further modification,

Figure 8 is a detail perspective View of the clamping element shown in Figure 7,

Figure 9 is a detail perspective view of another modified' form of the device, the parts being shown separated, and,

Figure 10 is a side elevation of the same showing the head of the bolt broken away with the shank of the bolt in section.

Referring to Figure 1 the numeral ii! designates the battery clamping element as a whole having a bod H in the form of a split ringand provided at one side with a cylindrical radialextension 12 toreceive a cable i3. Opposite the extension i2 spaced parallel ears l4 and I5 projectirom the split ring and are integral therewith. Each of these ears is provided with a radial Qp mendad ecess ifi r ueh whi h th a p ing bolt may be inserted and removed radially 30, with respect to the semi-circular lower end I1 of each recess. fiuch arrangement takes the place of the usual cylindrical apertures through the ears of the clamping element to receive a o t in e edaxia y h r th us Th device is provided with a bolt is having a threadedv Shani: with ahead l9; at one end, and a not it]; is adapted to be threaded on the shank 3. The head i9 is provided on one side with 'a notch hailing end portions 22 and Z3 engageablewiih a h s 24 P o in om e ear 15 as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2. This lugpre- Vents rotation oi the. head it when the nut 28 is being tightened and serves to cam the bolt cut of the recess [5 when the bolt is corroded and an effort is made to'unscrew the nut 25, which,

ps aii ns i l e om a pa ha the form or the invention shown inFigure 4 a clamp element indicated as a whole by'the numeral 25 is provided with a similar split ring parties it hav g cylindrical projection 21 to receive a cable 28. Opposite the projectionfl the'split ring is provided with a pair of spaced ears 29 each of which is slotted as at 39 to permit the lateral insertion and removal of the bolt to be described. Each recess 3 has its bot.-

tom portion curved on an arc of a circle to receive a corresponding portion of the bolt, and each ear 23 is provided with a flat wall portion 3| overhanging the bottom portion of the corresponding slot for a purpose to be described.

The bolt for the clamp is indicated as a whole by the numeral 32 and comprises a shank 33 having a head 34 at one end, and this head may be square or any other desired polygonal shape and need not be provided with a notch as in the form of the invention shown in Figure l. A portion of the free end of the shank 33 is threaded as at 35 and the remainder of the shank, between the head 34 and threads 35, is provided with a longitudinal rib 36, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. This rib is engageable with the overhanging faces 3| when the nut 31 of the bolt is tightened, and when the bolt is corroded and an effort is made to remove the nut 31, the rib 36 serves to cam the bolt out of the slots 30, as will become apparent.

In Figure 6 of the drawing a modified form of the invention is shown, and this form is a combination of the two forms shown in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive. In such form of the invention the clamp element is indicated as a whole by the numeral 38 and is identical, except in one respect, with the element 25 in Figure 4 and the parts which are identical have been indicated by the same reference numerals. The bolt for the clamp 38 combines the structures of the bolts 18 and 32 and is indicated as a whole by the numeral 39. This bolt comprises a shank 40 having a head 4! at one end and having its opposite end threaded as at 42. The head 4| is notched as at 43 to provide portions M and 45 engageable with a projection 46 carried by an ear 29 of the clamp 38. The projection 46 may be identical with the projection 24 in Figures 1 and 2 and is the only difference in the clamp 38 over the clamp 25 shown in Figures 4 and 5. The shank of the bolt 39 is provided with a longitudinal rib 41 shown in Figures 4 and 5. This rib functions in the same manner as the rib 3B and the notch 43 functions in substantially the same manner as the notch 2|. The distinction in the operation of the form of the invention shown in Figure 6 over the operations of the previous forms of the invention will be referred to below.

A very simple type of device is employed in the modification illustrated in Figures '7 and 8. The battery post clamp is indicated as a whole by the numeral 48 and comprises a split ring 49 having a cable-receiving projection 50 at one side thereof. The split ring 49 is provided with a pair of spaced ears 5| and 52 each of which is slotted as at 53 to permit the bolt to be referred to to be laterally inserted into and removed from its op- The ear 52 is provided with a laterally projecting overhanging portion 54, as shown.

The bolt used in connection with this form of the invention is conventional and has not been erative position in the bottoms of the slots 53.

illustrated in detail for this reason. The bolt and comprises a split ring clamping portion 58 having at its closed side a projecting cab1e-receiving portion 59 The split side of the ring 58 is provided with a pair of ears B0 and El in spaced parallel relation and provided with slots 62 to receive a bolt to be referred to. The upper part of the ear Si is provided with a depending hook portion 63 which cooperates with the bolt in a manner to be described.

The bolt used in connection with the device shown in Figures 9 and 10 is indicated as a whole by the numeral 34 and comprises a shank 65 having a head 66 at one end. The shank is threaded from its free end to a point spaced from the head 56, as at 61, for inspection in a conventional nut 68. The portion of the shank 55 between the threads 61 and head 66 is longitudinally grooved as at 68, and adjacent the groove such portion of the shank is provided with a longitudinal rib 69.

The operation of the form of the invention shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 is as follows:

It is well known that in the conventional battery terminal clamp the ears of the split ring are provided with alined circular openings to receive the shank of the clamping bolt inserted axially therethrough. Due to the corrosion which occurs around the battery post and the elements of the clamping device it nearly always is extremely difiicult to remove the clamping bolt or even to loosen it sufiiciently to permit the clamp to be removed from the post. The substantial force required for this operation frequently results in the bending and breaking of the clamp.

The bolt l8 employed with the device illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 has been shown in axial alinement with the bottoms I! of the slots l6 for the purpose of clarity and illustration. This bolt may be inserted endwise, of course, but is preferably placed above the slots I6 and moved laterally thereinto. This operation obviously may be performed with the nut 20 partially threaded on the shank l8. Accordingly it is unnecessary to separate the nut 20 from the bolt to place the bolt in position. After the bolt has been so placed a wrench may be applied to the nut 20 to clamp the ears M and I5 toward each other and thus clamp the split ring ll about the battery post. The portion 22 of the notch 21 will engage the lug 24 as shown in Figure 2 to prevent the bolt from turning while the nut 20 is being tightened.

Assuming that the bolt has been in operative position over a substantial period of time and has become corroded, it obviously will be quite diificult to remove the nut 20. With the present device the removal of the nut 20 is unnecessary. A wrench is applied to the nut to turn it in a direction to unscrew it from the shank l8 and this results in rotation of the bolt IS in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2 to bring the portion 33 of the notch 2| into engagement with the lug 24. The bolt then can no longer rotate on a fixed axis and continued turning of the nut 20 will result in turning the bolt about an axis represented by the line of contact of the lug 24 with the portion 23 of the notch 2|. This. operation will cause the bolt to be cammed out of the slots 16 and thus removed from the clamp. This operation is quickly and easily performed in a few seconds, thus effecting a material saving in time and also preventing damage to the clamp. The bolts, of course, will be quite cheap to produce 1 and a corroded bolt may be discarded and a new bolt used When it is desired to replace the clamp.

The device shown in Figures 4 and 5 is operated in exactly the same manner as the device previ-' ously described, the only difierence being that different cooperating portions of the bolt and clamp provide the desired results. Upon the tightening of the nut 31 the rib 35 will contact with the overhanging faces 3| to prevent the bolt from turning and thus permit the nut to be readily tightened. When the bolt is to be removed, the nut 31 is turned in the proper direction to unscrew it from the bolt. Assuming that the nut 31 is corroded in position, this operation will result in turning the bolt in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 5, whereupon the rib 36 will travel downwardly along the substantially vertical innermost wall portions of the slots 30 and this fact, together with the clockwise twisting of the bolt causes it to be cammed out of the slots 30. The principal distinction in operation between such form of the invention and that shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 is that the rib 36 is slightly closer t the turning axis of the bolt, thus providing greater leverage in the camming operation.

The device shown in Figure 6 is a combination of the two devices shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 and Figures 4 and 5. The mode of operation of this device is identical with the devices previously described. When the bolt is to be removed the nut 37 is turned with a wrench whereupon the rib 4'! functions in exactly the same manner as the rib 36 during the initial turning movement of the bolt. The bolt will have initially occupied a position corresponding to the bolt in Figure 2 and the cam 41 will provide substantial leverage to loosen the bolt from the notches in the clamp until the portion 45 of the notch 43 comes into engagement with the lug 45. This action provides a slightly reduced leverage and a correspondingly more rapid camming movement of the bolt out of operative position.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures '7 and 8 turning movement of the bolt when the conventional nut is being tightened is prevented by the overhang 54. In such operation the head 56 will occupy the position shown in Figure 7 and will tend to turn in a counter-clockwise direction as the nut is tightened. Obviously the overhang 54 prevents such turning movement beyond the position shown in Figure '7. When the nut or" the the bolt, it will be apparent that the bolt is free to turn on its axis for a short distance until a portion of the same face of the head 56 engages the end of the overhang 54. Further turning movement of the bolt with its axis in fixed position will be prevented and the bolt will be cammed out of the notches 53. Y

The operation of the form of the device shown in Figure 9 is substantially identical with that of the device shown in Figures 4 and 5. The adjacent portions of the notch 68 and rib 59 form in effect, a hook engageable with the depending hook 63 to prevent the turning of the bolt when the nut is being tightened. Conversely, the reverse turning of the nut to remove the bolt from the clamp will result in turning the bolt in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 10 whereupon the side of the rib 69 opposite the hook 53 will engage the adjacent surface of the slot (52 in which it is arranged to thus cam the bolt out of position.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present invention is capable of embodiment in a wide variety of forms to accomplish the desired results. The bolts may be placed in position without inserting them endwise and consequently without removing the nuts from the bolts. each case the bolt is prevented from turning when its associated nut is being tightened. More important, it will be obvious that each form of the invention permits the quick and easy removal of normal position and free it from engagement" with the clamp.

Itwill be noted that each form of the invention is applicable to conventional storage battery terminal posts, and it also will be apparent that conventional bolts may be used with the clamps. This is desirable since if no bolts intended'for use with the device are available when one of the bolts is removed and lost or damaged, a conventional bolt may be inserted in position and tightened to clamp the clamping device against the battery terminal.

It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the sameand that variou changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. A battery terminal clamp comprising a body having a split collar to receive a battery terminal and extended on opposite sides of the split to form arms, each arm being provided with an open slot aligned with the slot in the other arm to receive a bolt extending transversely through the arms, and a bolt adapted to be arranged in said slots including a head and a shank, and a nut threaded on said shank, said body and said bolt having portions forming cam elements engageable with each other upon rotation of the bolt inone direction to effect movement of the bolt out of said slots.

2. A battery terminal clamp comprising a body having a split collar to receive a battery terminal and extended on opposite sides of the splitto form arms, each arm being provided withan" open slot aligned with the slot in the other arm to receive a bolt extending transversely through the arms, and a bolt adapted to be arranged in said slots including a head and shank, and a nut threaded on said shank, said body and said bolt having portions constructed and arranged to"in-' terengage with each other to prevent rotation of the bolt in one directiornsaid bolt and said body having cooperating portions forming cam elements engageable with each other upon rotation of the bolt in the opposite direction to effect movement of the bolt out of the slots.

3. A battery terminal clamp comprising a body having a split collar to receive a battery terminal I and extended on opposite sides of the split to form arms, each arm being provided With an open slot alignedwith the slot in theother' arm to receive a bolt extending transversely through the arms, and a bolt adapted to be arranged in said slots including a head and a shank, and a nut threaded on said shank, one of said arms" being provided with a portion overhanging said bolt when it is in said slots and engaging the bolt to prevent rotation of the bolt in one direction,

said bolt and one of said arms having cooperating portions forming cam elements engageable with each other upon rotation of the bolt in the other direction to efiect movement of the bolt laterally out of the slots.

4. A battery terminal clamp comprising a body having a split collar to receive a battery terminal and extended on opposite sides of the split to form arms, each arm being provided with an open slot aligned with the slot in the other arm to receive a bolt extending transversely through the arms, and a bolt adapted to be arranged in said slots including a head and shank, and a nut threaded on said shank, said bolt having a portion within at least one of said slots projecting radially from the body of the bolt, one of said arms being provided with a projecting portion engaging the projecting portion of the bolt to prevent rotation of the latter in one direction and forming with the projecting portion of the bolt a pair of cam elements engageable with each other upon rotation of the bolt in the opposite direction to efiect lateral movement of the bolt out of the slots.

5. A battery terminal clamp comprising a body having a split collar to receive a battery terminal and extended on opposite sides of th split to form arms, each arm being provided with an open slot aligned with the slot in the other arm to receive a bolt extending transversely through the arms, and a bolt adapted to be arranged in said slots including a head and shank, and a nut threaded on said shank, one of said arms having a single portion engaging the head of the bolt to prevent rotation of the bolt in one direction and forming with the head of the bolt a pair of cam elements engageable with each other upon rotation of the bolt in the opposite direction to effect movement of the bolt laterally out of the slots.

6. A battery terminal clamp comprising a body having a split collar to receive a battery terminal and extended on opposite sides of the split to form arms, each arm being provided with an open slot aligned with the slot in the other arm to receive a bolt extending transversely through the arms, and a bolt adapted to be arranged in said slots including a head and shank, and a nut threaded on said shank, said body having a projection extended parallel to the axis of the bolt and engaging said head, said head and said pror jection being constructed and arranged with respect to each other to prevent rotation of the bolt in one direction and cooperating to form cam elements engageable with each other upon rotation of the bolt in the opposite direction to eifect movement of the bolt laterally out of said slots.

'7. A battery terminal clamp comprising a body having a split collar to receive a battery terminal and extended on opposite sides of the split to form arms, each arm being provided with an open slot aligned with the slot in the other arm to receive a bolt extending transversely through the arms, and a bolt adapted to be arranged in saidslots including a head and shank, and a nut threaded on said shank, one of said arms being provided with a portion engageable with the bolt to prevent rotation of the bolt in one direction, one of said arms having a portion overhanging said bolt when the latter is in said slot and cooperating with such portion of the bolt to provide a pair of cam elements engageable with each other to effect a camming action at least partially ejecting the bolt from said slots upon rotation of the bolt in the opposite direction.

8. A battery terminal clamp comprising a body having a split collar to receive a battery terminal and extended on opposite sides of the split to form arms, each arm being provided with an open slot aligned with the slot in the other arm to receive a bolt extending transversely through the arms, and a bolt adapted to be arranged in said slots including a head and shank, and a nut threaded on said shank, one of said arms having a single portion engaging the head of the bolt to prevent rotation of the bolt in one direction, a portion of said last named arm and a portion of the head of the bolt forming a pair of cam elements engageable with each other to effect a camming action to at least partially eject the bolt from said slots upon rotation of the bolt in the opposite direction.

9. A battery terminal clamp comprising a body having a split collar to receive a battery terminal and extended on opposite sides of the split to form arms, each arm being provided with an open slot aligned with the slot in the other arm to receive a bolt extending transversely through the arms, and a bolt adapted to be arranged in said slots including a head and shank, and a nut threaded on said shank, said body having a projection extended parallel to the axis of the bolt and engaging said head, said projection and a portion of said head being constructed and arranged with respect to each other to prevent rotation of the bolt in one direction, said projection and another portion of said head forming a pair of cam elements engageable with each other to eifect a camming action at least partially ejecting said bolt from said slots upon rotation of said bolt in the opposite direction.

10. A battery terminal clamp comprising a body having a split collar to receive a battery terminal and extended on opposite sides of the split to form arms, each arm being provided with an open slot aligned with the slot in the other arm to receive a bolt extending transversely through the arms, and a bolt adapted to be arranged in said slots including a head and shank, and a nut threaded on said shank, one of said arms being provided adjacent one side of the slot therein and on the face thereof remote from the other arm with a lug arranged adjacent the head of the bolt, said lug and a portion of the head of the bolt cooperating to form cam elements engageable with each other upon rotation of the bolt in one direction to eiTect movement of the bolt out of said slots.

11. A battery terminal clamp comprising a body having a split collar to receive a battery terminal and extended on opposite sides of the split to form arms, each arm being provided with an open slot aligned with the slot in the other arm to receive a bolt extending transversely through the arms, and a bolt adapted to be arranged in said slots including a head and shank, and a nut threaded on said shank, the shank of said bolt having a rib extending longitudinally therealong, said rib and a portion of one of said arms within the slot therein cooperating to form cam elements engageable with each other upon rotation of the bolt in one direction to efiect movement of the bolt out of the slots.

GORDON A. BJORNSON. 

